The MEAC and the SWAC have a new tradition in which two of their teams will play against each other to kick off the season in Orlando.
This year, the Arkansas Pine Bluff Lions and the South Carolina State Bulldogs will be the teams doing the honors in the Sunshine State.
ODDS ANALYSIS
There are no betting lines yet for this game, but the fact that the Bulldogs have four suspended players from a brawl last season against Norfolk State to end the 2014 campaign isn't going to help matters any.
Arkansas Pine Bluff probably doesn't have the better of these two teams when they are both at full strength, but in this situation, we would suspect a relatively close spread when it does come out.
KEY MISMATCH
Arkansas Pine Bluff really didn't have an offense or a defense last season in a 3-8 campaign. The Golden Lions don't have any experience coming back at quarterback, which may or may not be a good thing depending upon your vantage point from the last couple seasons.
Marcus Terrell is a mobile signal caller for Arkansas Pine Bluff, but he has only thrown three passes in his collegiate career. South Carolina State, which has an awfully good secondary by lower level FCS standards, could have a field day, especially if the defensive line is getting its way into the backfield early and often.
KEY STAT
42 – The number of sacks which the Golden Lions allowed last season, an average of just under four sacks per game.
BETTING ANGLE
South Carolina State was a fringy Top 25 team by the end of last season in the FCS, something which UAPB can only dream of at this point.
Last year, the Bulldogs really did a nice job against teams like this, particularly on the defensive side of the ball, so don't be all that stunned if they end up keeping this game under a relatively low total.
ANALYSIS AND PREDICTION
Arkansas Pine Bluff is just overmatched here. Not only does it have problems at the quarterback position, but it is also struggling on the defensive side of the ball, where just one of the team's back seven from last season return. Recruiting hasn't exactly gone the way of the Golden Lions either, and they look like they are in for another long campaign.
The only downer in this game for the Bulldogs is that they won't have the services of Scoot Simmons, who was the team's leading rusher last year and is expected to be one of the leaders of this team in 2015.
Still, there should be enough on the defensive side of the ball to keep Arkansas Pine Bluff in the teens, and if that's how this ends up playing out, there's little way that this game goes past the total or is covered by the Golden Lions.
Clearly, South Carolina State is the right play of these two teams.
South Carolina State 27, Arkansas Pine Bluff 10
The college football lines for this Sunday game will surface at BookMaker before anywhere else on the internet. Gamble on the game between every commercial break with BookMaker's live betting feature. Along with an adjusted in-game moneyline, you can wager on what will happen on the next play or how many points will be scored in the next quarter. Live betting is the most exciting way to play!
BookMaker offers play-by-play betting odds for live sporting events every day! The user-friendly wagering interface on your smartphone provides an easy way to place bets on the go. Mobile betting lines are updated by the minute so click here to start gambling on thrilling live action at BookMaker Sportsbook! The duel between the Arkansas Pine Bluff Golden Lions and the South Carolina State Bulldogs will take place at The Citrus Bowl on Sunday, September 6, 2015. This 3:30 p.m. ET kickoff can be seen live on ESPN.
